Septic maintenance and reinspection program begins

The following are brief reports of items discussed during an April 5 meeting of Highlands East council.

By Sue Tiffin

Published April 11, 2017

Property owners in the Glamor and Billings lakes area will be first to participate in a sewage system maintenance inspection program launching in Highlands East this spring. Laurie Devolin, chief building official, said the Glamor Lake cottage association had expressed their support of the program.
The municipality is distributing letters detailing tentative dates for the inspections, along with a questionnaire aiding property owners to share pertinent septic information with site inspectors. Devolin noted an emphasis on systems older than five years being inspected to ensure they are properly maintained.
Two post-secondary summer students will be hired to assist with the project, which is expected to begin in May.

Cost of council

Highlands East council cost just more than $100,000 to run in 2016.
Reeve Dave Burton was paid almost $24,000, with no mileage or benefits claims.
Deputy-reeve Suzanne Partridge received $21,602 in remuneration, including almost $2,000 for mileage, seminars and committees expenses. With mileage and conference expenses, councillors Cec Ryall, Cam McKenzie and Joan Barton received $19,068, $18,539 and $17,327 respectively. Partridge received $548 for her work with the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority, while McKenzie received $178 from Kawartha Region Conservation Authority and $115 from Otonabee Region Conservation Authority as a representative for Source Water Protection which was included in their total remuneration.

Trails

The trails advisory committee is looking for more potential trails for development in the Cardiff, Gooderham, Highland Grove and Harcourt areas.
Committee chair and Councillor Joan Barton said a public appeal two years ago wasn’t successful.
“We’ve made efforts on our own, but what we really need is input from people living in these areas,” she said.

Acquisition of land/parkland dedication

Land on Dark Lake is being donated to the municipality to become dedicated parkland. Council passed a bylaw authorizing the acquisition of the land, approximately seven acres on Schofield Road in Wilberforce, from the Marcus family.
Herlihey Park will be named for Harold and Beatrice Herlihey. Harold was part owner and general manager of the Wilberforce Veneer and Lumber Co. plant formerly located on the site.
A dedication ceremony is expected to take place this year after development consultations with the Marcus family and the community.
“We’re pretty excited about it,” said Reeve Dave Burton. “It’s a huge, huge gift. It will be something to behold.”

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